South Africa > On the way to the Drakensberg

A good night’s sleep did me well. Today we have a long travel day ahead, heading toward the Drakensberg Mountains. We drive along the N2 highway back toward Saint Lucia, but this time we continue on toward Durban. We turn left and drive to Nkwalini, where we make a restroom stop at a gas station. We can also have some coffee here. I take a walk around the village but stay close to the gas station. Although it seems (and probably is) fairly safe, I don’t feel completely at ease—and Nkwalini isn’t particularly remarkable. Back on the bus, we continue toward Dundee. Along the way, we read the Afrikaans newspaper that Gerhardt bought. Outside, the landscape becomes increasingly hilly. It’s astonishing how many tree plantations we pass—forests of perfectly straight planted trees stretching as far as the eye can see.

South Africa - The Drakensberg Mountains near the Lesotho border

The timber industry must be doing well here. Around half past one, we arrive at the Talana Museum in Dundee, a museum about the old coal mines. A sandwich is served in the restaurant, and afterward, we have time to walk around the museum grounds. I decide to walk toward Dundee. I see a few side paths between the houses, but none seem suitable for walking, and walking along the main road isn’t very pleasant either, so I turn back. The museum displays old machinery, various antique household items, and an old steam train. Around three o’clock, we continue toward the Drakensberg. We pass Ladysmith, and the steep cliffs of the Drakensberg begin to appear ahead. The narrow, winding road takes us higher and higher. The Amphitheatre—a five-kilometer-long rock wall along the border with Lesotho—rises dramatically above the landscape. We stay at the Orion Mont-Aux-Source Hotel. The lodge is in a stunning location. We are welcomed with a drink while our luggage is already brought to the rooms. Here, as in the previous lodge, it’s not even necessary to point out the suitcases—the luggage tags say it all. The room is very spacious, with a large sleeping area and a separate sitting room. We set the chairs outside and enjoy a glass of wine in the last rays of sunlight. Once the sun disappears behind the mountains, we change into our swimwear and take a dip in the refreshing pool. In the evening, there is an extensive dinner buffet.